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Last Updated: Sunday, 19 September, 2004, 13:16 GMT 14:16 UK
Workers 'may strike' over Jaguar
Jaguar XJ model
Ford believes it is losing too much money
Strike action could be on the agenda when unions hold an emergency meeting with workers at the doomed Browns Lane Jaguar plant in Coventry.

On Friday, parent company Ford announced plans to stop car production at the historic plant, and now union officials are preparing their response.

"We fully expect workers to want to resist the plans," one official said.

The Transport & General Workers' Union has warned industrial action could be held across all plants run by Ford.

JAGUAR SHAKE-UP
400 voluntary redundancies in manufacturing at Browns Lane
750 white collar jobs lost in Coventry and across the company
310 staff to remain at Browns Lane
425 staff to transfer to Castle Bromwich
300 jobs to be created at Aston Martin factory in Gaydon

Ford plans to stop car production at Browns Lane, with 400 voluntary redundancies and 425 jobs moved to the Castle Bromwich factory.

Jaguar will also lose 750 mostly white-collar staff as back office work is merged with Land Rover.

Local MP Bob Ainsworth said the company was not being open in explaining its decision.

The plan will see 310 jobs remain at Browns Lane to make wood finishes for Jaguar models.


Bad losses have made the move necessary, the company maintains, but it stresses all redundancies will be voluntary with those going offered a generous package.

Mr Ainsworth, and a former sheet metal worker at the plant, met Joe Greenwell, chairman and chief executive of Jaguar, on Friday afternoon.

"The local community, the workforce and the people representing them are entitled to some disclosure and a reasonable response to reasonable questions.

"How can you take a company seriously when they say they have had to take a decision for the good of the company but when you ask them for detail it's a polite 'mind your own business'."

A snapshot of half a century of Jaguar car production in Coventry.

He added: "It was not a happy meeting at all. I'm afraid there was no indication that the company is prepared to enter into any dialogue.

"The unions are putting their heads together to see what they can do. I'm fairly sure they aren't going to let this go.

"This is the start of a long campaign to force the company to at least be open to enter into dialogue."

Ford has also said Jaguar would pull out of Formula One at the end of the season.

Meetings will be held at Jaguar's three UK plants - Coventry, Castle Bromwich and Halewood - this week to decide on the union response.


SEE ALSO:
End of car production 'a tragedy'
17 Sep 04  |  England
Jaguar ends car making in Coventry
17 Sep 04  |  Business
Jaguar quits Formula One
17 Sep 04  |  Motorsport
Solihull Land Rover jobs saved
22 Sep 04  |  Business
Land Rover road map vote looms
15 Sep 04  |  Business
Fall in sales at US car giants
01 Sep 04  |  Business
Ford profits soar on credit deals
20 Jul 04  |  Business


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